According to a statement released on Monday by the Union electronics and information technology ministry, over 7.9 million children under the age of five were enrolled between April and July as part of the Unique Identification Authority’s Bal Aadhaar initiative.
“Bal Aadhaar registration is moving on nationwide with an increased pace,” it said. By the end of March, 26.4 million children in the 0–5 age range had Bal Aadhaar, and by the end of July, that figure had risen to 34.3 million.
According to the ministry, states including Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Mizoram, Delhi, and Andhra Pradesh had enlisted 70% of the target category.
Children under the age of five are given the blue Bal Aadhaar, which is the forerunner to the regular Aadhaar. A regular Aadhaar is issued upon expiration. According to the ministry, “Bal Aadhaar acts as a facilitator in obtaining a number of welfare benefits and also serves as a digital photo identity for children.”